Twin-belt metal casting machine having removable core assembly including coolant applicators and back-up rollers

ABSTRACT

A twin-belt continuous metal casting machine is described having a pair of removable core assemblies each comprising coolant applicators and back-up rollers for supporting and cooling the respective casting belts. These removable core assemblies are fitted into large open channels in the respective upper and lower belt carriages adjacent to the region in which the molten metal is solidified. The core assemblies are conveniently removable for inspection and maintenance, and they are pre-assembled separately from the machine to facilitate accurate assembly and alignment of the segmented finned back-up roller assemblies and coolant applicators which include rigid rectangular conduits serving as transverse stiffening beams in the core assemblies.

United States Patent [191 Hazelett et al.

[451 Aug. 13, 1974 TWIN-BELT METAL CASTING MACHINE HAVING REMOVABLE CORE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING COOLANT APPLICATORS AND BACK-UP ROLLERS [75] Inventors: Robert William Hazelett, Winooski;

Robert J. Carmichael, Colchester,

both of Vt.

[73] Assignee: Hazelett Strip-Casting Corporation,

Winooski, Vt.

[22] Filed: May 3, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 356,726

[52] US. Cl. 164/278 [51] Int. Cl B22d 11/06 [58] Field of Search 164/278, 87, 137, 342

[ 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 594,583 11/1897 Wood 164/278 2,640,235 6/1953 Hazelett....' 164/278 X 2,904,860 9/1959 Hazelett 164/278 X 2,978,761 4/1961 Foye et al. 164/278 3,036,348 5/1962 l-lazelett et al 164/278 3,123,874 3/1964 Hazelett et al..... 164/278 X 3,142,873 8/1964 Hazelett et al 164/278 3,167,830 2/1965 Hazelett et a1 164/278 3,228,072 H1966 Hazelett et al 164/278 3,310,849 3/1967 Hazelett et al 164/278 3,422,178 l/l969 Junker et al. 164/278 UX Primary Examiner.l. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner.l0hn E. Roethel Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bryan, Parmelee, Johnson & Bollinger 5 7] ABSTRACT A twin-belt continuous metal casting machine is described having a pair of removable core assemblies each comprising coolant applicators and back-up rollers for supporting and cooling the respective casting belts. These removable core assemblies are fitted into large open channels in the respective upper and lower belt carriages adjacent to the region in which the mol- 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SHEET 1 [IF 2 PAIENIl-Imum 3M4 DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a twin-belt continuous metal casting machine having removable core assemblies comprising the coolant applicators and backup rollers for the two casting belts.

The invention is embodied in a twin-belt continuous metal casting machine and is an improvement in twinbelt machines as shown in US. Pat. NOS. 2,604,235; 2,904,860; 3,036,348; 3,041,686; 3,123,874; 3,142,873; 3,167,830; 3,228,072; and 3,310,849.

In accordance with this invention, the finned back-up rollers which support and guide the two casting belts along opposite sides of the casting region and the coolant applicators which apply liquid coolant to the reverse surface of each belt near the casting region are incorporated into removable core assemblies. There are rigid stringers which extend longitudinally of each core assembly for mounting the back-up rollers. The transverse beams for each removable core assembly are provided by rigid conduit header sections which are quickly disconnected, coupled to pipe lines extending to the large supply manifolds in the machine. The resultant core assemblies are strong, rigid and compact for ease of insertion into or removal from the metal casting machine.

Among the many advantages of a continuous metal casting machine embodying the present invention are those resulting from the fact that the coolant applicators and backup rollers are initially put together to form the removable core assemblies separate from the machine itself. Then the core assemblies as a whole are conveniently inserted into the machine and secured in place. The coolant applicators are connected to the coolant supply pipes in the machine by quickdisconnect couplings to complete the installation. This separate assembly of these components speeds up the construction of the casting machine as a whole.

In addition, this separate pre-assembly of these components facilitates their accurate assembly and alignment before the resulting core unit is inserted into the machine. The alignment of each component can be readily checked with precision because the core assembly is set up by itself where all of the components are directly accessible to and can be viewed by the technicians without mechanical interference from other parts of the machine. Straight edges and optical alignment gauges can be employed.

Further advantages arise in the operation and maintenance of the machine. If during metal casting operations it becomes desirable to perform maintenance on the back-up rollers or coolant applicators, it is possible to remove the whole core assembly and to replace it by a stand-by core assembly such that metal casting can be resumed after a relatively short down time." Also, in making periodic inspections and in performing routine maintenance work, the two removable core assemblies greatly facilitate the checking and measuring of the components.

The various objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment reviewed in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken through a twinbelt continuous metal casting machine incorporating the removable core assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial elevational view of the machine of FIG. 1, taken along the plane 22 in FIG. 1 looking toward the left and showing the outboard ends of the two belt supporting carriages, with portions being broken away to show the structural components;

FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view being taken along the line of plane 33 in FIG. 2, looking downwardly; and

FIG. 4 is an enlargement of a portion of FIG. 2 showing the structural beam members being provided by rigid conduit headers for supplying coolant to the coolant applicators.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the twin-belt continuous metal casting machine 10, which is shown in the drawings as an illustrative example of the present invention, the molten metal is solidified in a casting region C defined by the supporting parallel moving surfaces of upper and lower endless flexible casting belts 12 and 14. These two casting belts are supported and driven by means of an upper and a lower carriage, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2 at U and L, respectively. During casting operations, the two casting belts l2 and 14 are driven at the same speed from left to right as seen in FIG. 2 along adjacent casting region C with the molten metal being carried along between them as it solidifies.

The upper carriage includes a frame 16 supporting two main rolls l8 and 20 (FIG. 2) around which the upper casting belt 12 is revolved. Similarly, the lower carriage L includes a frame 22 supprting two main rolls 24 and 26 around which the lower casting belt 14 is revolved.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lower carriage frame 22 projects in cantilevered relationship from the main structural support 28 of the machine. This structural support 28 has an upstanding back frame 30 which serves to support the upper carriage U. The back frame 30 carries a lift arm 32 by means of a fulcrum pivot located at 33. The front end 34 of the lift arm 32 is pivotally connected at 35 to an upright portion 36 of the frame 16 of the upper carriage. The upper carriage U can be raised and lowered by lift means 38 acting upon the rear portion of the lift arm 32.

The molten metal in the region C is retained between the belts 12 and 14 by means of a pair of spaced edge dams 39 and 40 (FIG. 1) which revolve about the lower carriage L and move along either edge of the casting region. These edge dams may be formed as shown in US. Pat. No. 2,904,860 or 3,036,348, among those listed in the introduction. This molten metal imposes a heavy loading on the belts l2 and 14. Thus, to produce a cast section of constant thickness profile and shape it is essential that the casting belts be accurately and continuously supported and cooled.

In order to accomplish the support and cooling functions, removable belt supporting and cooling core assemblies 41 and 42 are included in the upper and lower carriages U and L,respectively.

These removable core assemblies are installed in each carriage directly between the respective main rolls l8 and 20, 24 and 26. Each core assembly 41 and 42 is preassembled and can be installed in or removed from its respective carriage as a unit.

As shown in FIG. 2, there are large channel openings forming recesses 43 and 44 in the upper and lower carriages, respectively, between the main rolls. Each of these large channel openings extends the major part of the length of the respective carriage U or L, and is positioned adjacent the casting belt near the casting mold region C. That is, the large channel opening recess 43 in the upper carriage extends the major length of the region between the rolls 18 and 20 along the'lower side of this upper carriage. Similarly, the large channel opening recess 44 in the lower carriage extends the major length of the region between the main rolls 24 and 26 and is located on the upper side of the lower carriage where it faces the mold region.

The upper and lower removable core assemblies 41 and 42 are of modular design and can be interchanged. They each include a base plate 46 and a plurality of transverse beams 48 formed by rigid coolant supply condiuts of rectangular cross section, as seen most clearly in FIG. 4. The long axis of the rectangular section of these conduits 48 extends in the vertical plane to provide stiffness to resist the load of the molten metal in the casting region C. As shown in FIG. 4, these conduit beams 48 are regidly secured to the base plate 46 as by machine screws 50.

As described in Hazelett US. Pat. No. 3,041,686, liquid coolant is applied at high velocity and evenly distributed over the reverse surfaces of the casting belts l2 and 14 by means of coolant applicators 52 (FIG. 4) to form a high velocity layer of coolant travelling along the belt. The coolant is supplied under pressure into the header passageways 54 within the respective conduits 48 and issues through nozzles 56 directed toward the applicators 52. Part of the coolant is scooped away from the coolant layer on the belt by a leading edge 58 of the applicator. As seen in FIG. 4 at 59, the applicators 52 are secured to and supported by therigid conduit beams 48. FIG. 3 shows these applicators extending across the full width of the core assembly 42. For further explanation of the operation of such applicators and scoops, the reader may refer to U.S. Pat. No. 3,041,686, mentioned above.

Both casting belts I2 and 14 are directly supported along the mold region C by a plurality of back-up roller assemblies 60. These roller assemblies include multiple narrow circumferential fins 62 engaging the reverse surface of the belt, which do not restrict the liquid coolant layer flowing along these reverse surfaces. Each of these roller assemblies is divided into three segments 60-l, 60-2 and 60-3, so as to span the full width of the belt carriage. This segmented back-up roller arrangement reduces the distance between supports thus drastically reducing deflection of each segment 60l, 60-2 and 60-3 roller without increasing the diameter of the shaft 64 or fin 62 and also allows close spacing of the rollers to provide continuous support for the casting belt.

As seen in FIG. 3, the center segments 60-2 of the back-up roller assemblies and the inner ends of the outer segments 60-l and 60-3 are supported by a pair of longitudinal stringers 66 extending the length of the core assembly. These stringers are attached to the conduit beams 48 by means of triangular gussets 68.

In FIG. 4 are shownthe mounting caps 70 which secure reduced diameter shaft portions 72 of the roller assemblies to the stringers 66.

The outer ends of the two outer roller segments 60-1 and 60-3 are supported by longitudinal rails 74 which extend along the sides of the removable core assemblies 41 and 42. Reduced diameter shaft portions 72 (FIG. 1) are received into mounting holes in these side rails 74.

In order to secure the removable core assemblies 41 and 42 into the respective large channel recesses 43 and 44, the base plates 46 are fastened to the frames 16 and 22 by large machine screws 76 (FIG. 2). In addition, there are a pair of longitudinal clamps 78 (FIG. 1) which are rabbeted so as to engage over a projecting lip on the edges of the base plate 46. These clamp members 78 are attached by heavy machine screws (not shown) to the frames of the belt carriages.

Each core assembly is located in position in its carriage by means of vertical keys 80, as shown in FIG. 3, engaging between the ends of the side rails 74 and the carriage frame 22.

In order to supply coolant to the machine 10, as shown in FIG. 1, there is a large pipe coupling 82 communicating through an elbow 83 with a high pressure flexible hose 84 which leads to a manifold 86 mounted on the upright frame 36 of the upper carriage U. The hose 84 is surrounded by reinforcing flexible metal braid and its flexibility permits the upper carriage to be raised and lowered. From the manifold 86, strainer ducts 87 carry the coolant down to quick-disconnect couplings 88 leading into tapering transition sections 90 mating with the ends of the conduit beams 48. The

ends of the plug-in disconnect couplings 88 are fitted with 0 rings (not shown) and can be easily slipped into sockets 91 in the strainer ducts 87 and into the transition sections 90 thus facilitating installation and removal of the core assembly.

For supplying coolant to the lower carriage L, another large pipe coupling 92 and a pipe elbow 94 lead into a manifold 96 extending along the rear of the upstanding back structure 30. Pipe lines 98 lead down and forward to sockets 91 associated with quick-disconnect couplings 88 for the lower carriage. These latter couplings 88 are similar to those for the upper carriage and are associated with tapering transition sections 90 for the lower conduit beams 48.

To remove the core assembly 41 or 42, the upper carriage is raised to open the casting section C. The casting belt is removed from the respective carriage U or L, and thus the core assembly is fully exposed and accessible for removal.

We claim:

1. In a twin-belt continuous metal casting machine having casting belts revolving around two belt supporting carriages for defining a casting region between the belts, and wherein each of the carriages has a frame with main rolls located at opposite ends of the carriage for revolving the casting belt around the carriage, the invention comprising:

a removable core assembly for insertion into each belt carriage including a plurality of coolant applicators having coolant conduits extending transversely across the core assembly for applying liquid coolant to a castingbelt and a plurality of finned back-up rollers extending transversely for supporting and guiding the casting belt adjacent to the casting region,

the frames of each of the carriages defining a large channel opening on the sideof the carriage facing toward the casting region for receiving the core assembly inserted therein,

means for removably connecting each of said coolant conduits to a supply of liquid coolant in the casting machine, and

means for removably securing the core assembly in the large channel opening.

2. In a twin-belt continuous casting machine, the invention as claimed in claim 1, in which:

said coolantconduits are rigid and form transverse stiffening beams in the removable core assembly.

3. In a twin-belt continuous metal casting machine,

the invention as claimed in claim 2, in which:

longitudinal stringers and side rails are included in the removable core assembly secured to said coolant conduits,

and said finned back-up rollers are divided into segments mounted in end to end relationship in the removable core assembly to span the width of the core assembly, the respective ends of the segments of the backup rollers being mounted on said stringers and side rails. 4. In a twin-belt continous metal casting machine, the invention as claimed in claim 1, in which:

each of the removable core assemblies includes a base plate, and said means for removably securing the core assembly in the large channel opening includes a pair of clamp members extending longitudinally of the belt carriage, said clamp members engaging the edge portions of said base plate. 5. In a twin-belt continuous metal casting machine, the invention as claimed in claim 1, in which:

the large channel opening defined by the frame of the belt carriage extends the major part of the length of the respective belt carriage between the main rolls, and the removable core assembly fills this opening. 6. In a twin-belt continuous metal casting machine, the invention as claimed in claim 5, in which:

each of the removable core assemblies is modular and can fit into the large channel opening of either belt carriage. 

1. In a twin-belt continuous metal casting machine having casting belts revolving around two belt supporting carriages for defining a casting region between the belts, and wherein each of the carriages has a frame with main rolls located at opposite ends of the carriage for revolving the casting belt around the carriage, the invention comprising: a removable core assembly for insertion into each belt carriage including a plurality of coolant applicators having coolant conduits extending transversely across the core assembly for applying liquid coolant to a casting belt and a plurality of finned back-up rollers extending transversely for supporting and guiding the casting belt adjacent to the casting region, the frames of each of the carriages defining a large channel opening on the side of the carriage facing toward the casting region for receiving the core assembly inserted therein, means for removably connecting each of said coolant conduits to a supply of liquid coolant in the casting machine, and means for removably securing the core assembly in the large channel opening.
 2. In a twin-belt continuous casting machine, the invention as claimed in claim 1, in which: said coolant conduits are rigid and form transverse stiffening beams in the removable core assembly.
 3. In a twin-belt continuous metal casting machine, the invention as claimed in claim 2, in which: longitudinal stringers and side rails are included in the removable core assembly secured to said coolant conduits, and said finned back-up rollers are divided into segments mounted in end to end relationship in the removable core assembly to sPan the width of the core assembly, the respective ends of the segments of the backup rollers being mounted on said stringers and side rails.
 4. In a twin-belt continous metal casting machine, the invention as claimed in claim 1, in which: each of the removable core assemblies includes a base plate, and said means for removably securing the core assembly in the large channel opening includes a pair of clamp members extending longitudinally of the belt carriage, said clamp members engaging the edge portions of said base plate.
 5. In a twin-belt continuous metal casting machine, the invention as claimed in claim 1, in which: the large channel opening defined by the frame of the belt carriage extends the major part of the length of the respective belt carriage between the main rolls, and the removable core assembly fills this opening.
 6. In a twin-belt continuous metal casting machine, the invention as claimed in claim 5, in which: each of the removable core assemblies is modular and can fit into the large channel opening of either belt carriage. 